Where to eat

Food editor Dorothy So says: Hong Kong’s dining scene is eclectic: at one of end of the spectrum you have the super-local, at the other there’s high-end international cuisine. For the former, go for old-school dim sum pushed around in metal trolleys at Lin Heung Tea House (160-164 Wellington Street, Central. +852 2544 4556) or hit up the Mong Kok area in Kowloon for some down-and-dirty street food. For the latter, try a Michelin-starred, wine-paired meal at Time Out Hong Kong’s 2010 Restaurant of the Year, Amber

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Where to party

Nightlife editor Oliver Clasper says: The unavoidable cacophony of Top 40 music that consumes most of Central makes it hard to find real clubbing, but it does exist if you know where to go. Two small and highly dedicated drum ’n’ bass and dubstep crews, Kongkretebass and Heavy, ply their trade at Backstage Live. Also watch out for their collaborative outdoor parties throughout the year. For cutting-edge techno (minimal or tech house, mainly), mainstay Yumla and newcomer Fly serve it up every weekend without fail, while Volar pushes the latest electro and international acts – though it’s pricier and with a much younger crowd. For afterhours clubbing of the grittier kind (on weekends the above venues shut at around 5am), head down to Homebase where the party lasts until past 9am the following morning.

Where to get a bit of culture

Art editor Edmund Lee says: Despite the city’s reputation, there are some great scattered cultural hotspots. High-profile performing arts groups from around the world regularly grace the Cultural Centre. International and local music acts of the highest calibre are also regulars at Hidden Agenda, the influential indie bar that was declared Time Out Hong Kong’s best music venue in 2010. More arty pursuits can be found at the nearby Osage Kwun Tong, a gallery showcasing Asian contemporary art. On the Hong KongIsland side, art lovers can do worse than make a brief visit to the non-profit Para/Site Art Space, a tiny curator-run space, the vision of which remains extraordinarily grand.